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United States Patent |
5,022,657
|
Bussiere
,   et al.
|
June 11, 1991
|
Golf practice tee apparatus
Abstract
The apparatus is comprised of a platform with a teeing mechanism operated
by a user. The user depresses a lever arm that depresses a tee and that
activates a dispensing mechanism that feeds golf balls to the tee in its
depressed position. The mechanism is comprised of a set of levers, a
ratchet and an axle which extends into a reservoir of gold ball dispenser.
The reservoir includes a hole leading to a chute that terminates at a
vertical tube in which moves a depressible tee. On the axle, within the
reservoir, is a flexible rotating disk with a plurality of oval holes. As
the disk rotates, balls in the reservoir fall into the holes, and as the
holes pass over the hole in the reservoir, the balls fall into the chute
and onto the tee. The ratchet coordinates the motion of the flexible disk
so that one ball is moved into position over the hole in the reservoir for
each depression of the tee.
Inventors:
|
Bussiere; Joseph P. (Edmonton, CA);
Bussiere; Richard A. (Edmonton, CA);
Bussiere; Paul L. (Edmonton, CA);
Bussiere; Daniel J. (Edmonton, CA);
Lindop; Christopher (Alberta, CA)
|
Assignee:
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373470 Alberta Ltd. (Edmonton, CA)
|
Appl. No.:
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579692 |
Filed:
|
September 10, 1990 |
Current U.S. Class: |
473/137 |
Intern'l Class: |
A63B 057/00 |
Field of Search: |
273/201
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1545959 | Jul., 1925 | Huyler | 273/201.
|
1965697 | Jul., 1934 | Gardner et al. | 273/201.
|
2051253 | Aug., 1936 | Goehler et al. | 273/201.
|
2127282 | Aug., 1938 | Beckett | 273/201.
|
2295599 | Sep., 1942 | Mozel | 273/201.
|
3147980 | Sep., 1964 | Gollahon | 273/201.
|
3423097 | Jan., 1969 | Fry | 273/201.
|
3966213 | Jun., 1976 | Bradley | 273/201.
|
4659081 | Apr., 1987 | Cook | 273/201.
|
4817955 | Apr., 1989 | Hickson et al. | 273/201.
|
Primary Examiner: Brown; Theatrice
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lambert; Anthony R.
Claims
We claim:
1. An automatic golf tee comprising:
a user activated depressible tee movable from a first position to a second
position;
means actuable by a user for actuating said tee;
a golf ball dispenser having a lower surface;
a golf ball sized hole formed in the lower surface of the golf ball
dispenser;
a chute attached to the golf ball dispenser below said hole in said lower
surface for supplying balls to the tee;
a flexible rotating disc having a plurality of openings arranged
circumferentially about the disc, the flexible rotating disc being
rotatably disposed above and adjacent to the lower surface of the golf
ball dispenser, such that rotation of the flexible disc to sequentially
align said opening in said disc with the hole in the golf ball dispenser
allows a golf ball in the golf ball dispenser to enter the chute; and
means connecting said means actuable by a user and said rotating disc for
sequentially rotating the flexible disc in response to movement of the tee
from the first position to the second position.
2. The automatic golf tee of claim 1 further including a cone disposed
above the flexible disc for deflecting any golf balls in the golf ball
dispenser radially towards the openings.
3. The automatic golf tee of claim 1 in which the means for rotating the
flexible disc includes:
an axle having first and second ends, the first end being attached to the
center of the flexible disc;
bearing means in said lower surface for rotatably receiving the axle;
connecting said means actuable by a user and sold rotating disc
a circular ratchet attached to the second end of the axle drive means
engaging said rachet to rotate said disc when said tee is actuated by a
user, and
a sequence of levers connected between the tee and drive means.
4. The automatic golf tee of claim 1 in which the openings are each oval in
shape.
5. The automatic golf tee of claim 1 further including an artificial turf
surface located adjacent the tee.
6. The automatic golf tee of claim 1 further including means for
automatically resetting the tee from the second position to the first
position.
7. The automatic golf tee of claim 1 in which the depressible tee is fixed
to a tee carrier, the tee carrier being bevelled at its top end.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for practising golf.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There have been many prior proposals relating to such apparatus, but they
have not achieved widespread use. It has been proposed hitherto to make
use of a reservoir of balls which are presented one at a time to the
player by means of a teeing mechanism. Examples of such arrangements are
to be seen, for example, in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No.
4,659,081; U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,263; U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,694; U.S. Pat. No.
3,533,631; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,321.
Such mechanisms have practical disadvantages. Many are unduly complex and
expensive, are not readily transportable, require frequent service or
maintenance, suffer degradation of performance due to wear and tear of the
elements, and require connection to external sources of power. Others are
simpler but would be difficult or inconvenient to operate or would not
provide long term reliable performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a golf practice apparatus which
is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use, which can be
used both indoors and outdoors, which requires little maintenance and
resists the elements, providing long term reliable delivery of golf balls
without frequent service and which requires no external power supply.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an automatic
golf tee comprising:
a user activated depressible tee movable from a first position to a second
position;
a golf ball dispenser having a lower surface;
a golf ball sized hole formed in the lower surface of the golf ball
dispenser;
a chute attached to the golf ball dispenser for supplying balls to the tee;
a flexible rotating disc having a plurality of openings arranged
circumferentially about the disc, the flexible rotating disc being
rotatably disposed above and adjacent to the lower surface of the golf
ball dispenser, such that upon rotation the openings in the flexible
rotating disc sequentially align up with the hole in the golf ball
dispenser to allow any golf balls in the golf ball dispenser to enter the
chute; and
means for rotating the flexible rotating disc in response to the movement
of the tee from the first position to the second position.
In other embodiments, the invention includes a cone disposed above the
flexible rotating disc for deflecting any golf balls in the golf ball
dispenser radially towards the opening; the means for rotating the
flexible rotating disc including an axle having first and second ends, the
first end being attached to the center of the flexible rotating disc,
bearing means for rotatably receiving the axle, a circular ratchet
attached to the second end of the axle, and a sequence of levers
mechanically connected between the tee and the ratchet; the openings each
being oval in shape; an artificial grass surface located adjacent the tee;
means for automatically resetting the tee from the second position to the
first position; and the depressible tee being fixed to a piston, the
piston being bevelled on one of its sides.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example,
with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals denote like
elements and in which:
FIG. 1 is a general isometric view of an apparatus according to the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic underside view of the platform of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a detailed side cross-section of the platform seen in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a flexible rotating disc and axle
according to the invention; and
FIG. 5 is an end view of the platform of FIG. 1, cut way to show the
internal mechanism of the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus has a platform assembly generally
designated 10, and an upper framework generally designated 12 which is
connected by support members 32 to the lower framework 16 mounted on
ground-engaging surface or feet 14. The framework 12 is of such dimensions
that it can be stepped onto easily by a person standing on the ground. The
platform 10 could be manufactured such that several such platforms could
form one integral unit served by one or more reservoirs or golf ball
dispensers 20. Platform 10 could be fitted with a ramp for wheelchair use
or, with a vertically mounted brace or seat to permit handicapped
individuals to utilize the invention. Weight sensors may be placed upon
the surface of platform 10 for use in educating users of the invention on
proper standing position. Further, platform 10 may be incorporated into
the floor of a building or structure.
Referring to FIG. 1, the platform 10 is associated with a reservoir 20. The
reservoir 20 is used to hold a sufficient volume of golf balls to avoid
frequent loading of baskets of golf balls by operators, and may be any of
various suitable shapes such as trapezoidal as shown, or shaped for the
promotion of other products such as beverages. The reservoir 20 may be
detachable so that it may be replaced with reservoirs of various
promotional shapes.
The apparatus may be coin operated so as to permit operation of the
mechanism only upon presentation of a coin or token. The apparatus could
include a counter-mechanism which would permit the operators to charge
users by the number of balls used. Further, the reservoir 20 could be used
to feed multiple platforms.
The platform 10 includes a standing area covered with a slip-resistant
surface 22, such as synthetic grass, rubber matting or the like. In the
preferred embodiment the surface 22 is water-resistant and may contain
drain holes which penetrate through platform 10 to permit drainage of
water from the platform 10. Such a surface may be PRO'S CHOICE made of
76000 denier yarn, with a woven interliner and tufted 5/32" gauge fabric
construction, available from Playfield Industries, of Chatsworth, Georgia.
A commercially available synthetic brush or turf 24 may be placed on the
platform 10 adjacent the tee area 26, so that the user to play the ball
off a turf-like surface rather than off of a tee. The turf surface may be
obtained from Calgary Brush, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Such an
adaptation would permit the user to use irons or other golf clubs which
are not primarily suitable for use with a golf tee.
Reservoir 20 is supported by collar 132 which connects reservoir 20 to
platform 10. Collar 132 may be an aluminum ring.
Referring to FIG. 2, platform 10 is shown in its preferred embodiment in an
underview which discloses use of structural members 30 to provide bracing
and support for platform 10. Such structural members may also be used to
provide means of attachment of platform 10 to reservoir 20. The structural
members 30 should be a rigid material which resists deterioration or
exposure to the elements, such as plastic, treated wood, painted steel or
alloys.
Referring to FIG. 3, the platform 10 is shown in schematic side
cross-section showing preferred vertical placement of support members 32.
FIG. 5 shows an end view of the structural support of the platform.
FIG. 3 also shows a detailed side cross-section of the platform 10 and
reservoir 20, a number of golf balls are placed into reservoir 20 through
the open top 34. The open top 34 is sealable with hinged lid 36 shown in
FIG. 1. A cone 40 attached to one end 41 of an axle 38 is set at a low
position within the reservoir 20 and causes the golf balls to be directed
towards the outer edges of reservoir 20 and to engage flexible disk 42,
which is made of a flexible resilient material such as rubber.
The reservoir 20 includes an opening or hole 44 through which golf balls
may fall into tee feed tube or chute 46. The tube 46 is shown here as a
cylinder, but may be constructed of suitably arranged rods. Tube 46
terminates in the well 50, which contains depressible tee carrier 52
having tee 120 mounted on it. As the tee carrier 52 is depressed by the
user using plunger 62 from the tee off position shown in FIG. 3, a ball in
the chute moves onto the tee and the supply of balls in the chute is
replaced by activation of the mechanism described in the following.
Means are provided for rotating the flexible rotating disc in response to
the movement of the tee from the tee off position to the depressed
position. This means is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The means for
rotating the flexible rotating disc includes: an axle 38 having first end
41 and second end 39, the first end 41 being attached to the center of the
flexible rotating disc 42; bearing means 110 for rotatably receiving the
axle 39; a circular ratchet or disc drive 100 attached to the second end
39 of the axle 38; and a sequence of levers mechanically connected between
the tee 120 and the ratchet 100.
The sequence of levers operates as follows. The tee carrier 52 is pivotally
attached by any suitable means to the end 54 of the main drive arm 56. The
main drive arm 56 is L-shaped and is pivotally attached to a suitable one
of platform support members 32 with pivot assembly 60. The plunger 62 is
attached to the main drive arm 56 and is preferably detachable for
adjustment or replacement. The tee carrier 52 is also preferably
detachable, and bevelled on the side facing the feed tube 46. Plunger 62
is slidably disposed in plunger shaft 64. End 68 of vertical leg 66 is
attached at pivot 72 to gas shock 74 and also to arm 76. Tension spring 82
extends between the support bracket 80 and the vertical leg 66, and on one
end is attached to the support bracket 80 (shown in FIG. 2) by hook 84 and
on the other end to vertical leg 66 by eye hook 86. Support bracket 80 is
suspended from the upper framework 12, as shown in FIG. 3.
When plunger 62 is depressed into plunger shaft 64 it forces the main drive
arm 56 to pivot downwards and causes the tee carrier 52 to lower inside
the tee well 50 and also causes the vertical leg 66 of main drive arm 56
to arch rearwards and upwards on platform 10 thereby compressing gas shock
74. Gas shock 74 is of a commercially available kind and it may be
selected to provide the desired compressive force. Gas shock 74, together
with the tension spring 82, drive arm 56 with leg 66, and their pivots,
together constitute means for automatically resetting the tee from the
depressed position to the tee off position.
Gas shock 74 is suspended between vertical leg 66 and support bracket 80,
to which it is connected at pin 78. The resistive force of gas shock 74
may be adjusted through tension spring 82, which may be adjusted by
rotation of the eye hook 86. In this manner, the speed at which the tee
carrier 52 moves in the well 50 may be adjusted so that balls do not fall
off the tee 120.
Vertical leg 66 is connected to a horizontal push arm 76 at pivot 72 and is
pulled rearwards by the motion of the vertical leg 66 when plunger 62 is
depressed into plunger shaft 64. The other end of horizontal push arm 76
is attached to vertical drive arm 90 at pivot assembly 92, which in turn
is attached to drive support arm 94 at pivot assembly 96. Drive support
arm 94 is fastened to a platform support member 32 (shown in FIG. 3) at
98.
When horizontal push arm 76 is pulled rearwards (to the left in the
drawing), it pulls the lower end of vertical drive arm 90 rearwards
causing the upper end of vertical drive arm 90 to pivot about pivot 96 and
move forwards. -Disk drive arm 106 is attached to the top of vertical
drive arm 90 with pivot assembly 102. When the upper end of the vertical
drive arm 90 is pushed forwards, it in turn pushes disk drive arm 106
forwards causing the end of it to engage against cogs 104 on disk drive
100 causing disk drive 100 to rotate.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower end of axle 38 is
attached through the center of disk drive 100 and is secured to platform
10 with a bearing assembly 110 and to the flexible disk 42 with cone 40
attached to the first end 41 of axle 38. When disk drive 100 rotates, it
causes the axle 38 to rotate as well as rotating flexible disk 42 along
with cone 40. Referring particularly to FIG. 5, flexible disk 42 has a
number of oval shaped holes 112. As flexible disk 42 rotates, the golf
balls are moved towards tee feed hole 44 which is provided at the bottom
of reservoir 20. During the rotation of flexible disk 42, one of the oval
shaped holes 112 aligns with tee feed hole 44 in the bottom of reservoir
20 allowing a golf ball to pass into the tee feed tube or chute 46 which
is on a decline towards well 50. When an oval shaped hole 112 in the
flexible disc 42 is aligned with tee feed hole 44 it is possible for more
than one golf ball to pass into the tee feed tube 46 and when the tee feed
tube 46 is full, with golf balls protruding from the top of the chute, it
is possible for the flexible disk 42 to continue its rotation as it is
fabricated from a pliable resilient material allowing it to bend upwards
over the golf balls that are still in reservoir 20.
The rotational motion of disc drive 100 is transmitted to the flexible disc
42 and cone 40, which are each rigidly attached to disk drive 100 by means
of axle 38. Axle 38 passes through bearing assembly 110 to provide
relatively frictionless rotation. Reservoir 20 is full of golf balls. The
function of cone 40 is to place the balls onto disc 42 in the proper
position, that is, near the oval holes 112. Cone 40 also supports the
weight of the balls in reservoir 20 which takes the weight off disc 42.
Cone 40 also holds disc 42 down and in proper position. Cone 40 takes most
of the force of impact of golf balls being loaded into reservoir 20. The
angle of cone 40 is in the preferred range of 10 degrees to 20 degrees and
depends on the height of reservoir 20 and the amount of weight to be
supported. A steeper angle will support less weight.
A spacer 118 is provided between the flexible disc 42 and the lower surface
28 of the reservoir 20 to raise the height of the flexible disc 42 above
the lower surface so that it is about at the height of the middle of a
golf ball. This permits the flexible disc to fairly readily move the golf
balls around the reservoir 20.
A less preferred form of the flexible disc 42 could include a series of
rods or rubber fingers to move golf balls around lower surface of
reservoir 20. Flexible disc 42 does not require service whereas rods,
rubber fingers or similar mechanisms could bend or jam requiring frequent
service or adjustment.
Oval holes 112 are used in the disc since it has been found that they
provide more time for the golf ball to drop into the hole than round
holes. The number of holes depends on the size of the reservoir. If a
larger reservoir is desired then more holes should be used.
The flexible disc 42 is a very effective feeding mechanism which acts to
force the golf balls around the bottom surface of reservoir 20. The holes
112 in disc 42 are designed to correspond to cogs 104 so that the holes
pass over and stop near the top opening 44 of feed tube 46 as they move
around the reservoir. As a result golf balls moving around the bottom
surface of reservoir 20 drop, by force of gravity, into feeder tube 46.
Feeder tube 46 quickly fills up, thereby providing a continuing source of
golf balls to tee carrier 52. The golf balls in feeder tube 46 are
automatically fed to tee carrier 52 by the force of gravity.
When a golf ball is moved into position over the hole 44, it rolls down the
tee feed tube 46. Normally, the feed tube will be full and the golf ball
will sit on top of the other golf balls in the tube. When the tee carrier
52 is in the depressed position, one golf ball will roll into the well 50
through an opening 116 in the side of the well 50 that connects to tee
feed tube 46. The golf ball will roll onto tee 120 by the appropriate
positioning of the tee 120 on the tee carrier 52 in the well 50.
When the plunger 62 is depressed, and the tee carrier 52 is in its lower
position, the release of the plunger 62 decompresses gas shock 74 which in
turn pushes vertical leg 66 and hence main drive arm 56 forwards. This
motion resets disk drive arm 76 into its start position as well as raising
plunger 62 up to its original start position while raising tee carrier 52
into its tee off position. The height of tee 120 may be adjusted by
turning the tee adjuster 122. The tee adjuster 122 may be formed from a
tee adjuster knob 126 having a threaded end set in a guide 128. Guide 128
is formed from a pair of steel members that receive the main drive arm 56
between them and constrain the main drive arm 56 to move in a vertical
plane. The threaded end of the tee adjuster knob 126 forms a stop that
limits the upward motion of main drive arm 56 at different positions.
The user then hits the golf ball off tee 120 directly or places it onto
artificial turf surface 24 which permits the user to play the ball off a
turf like surface rather than off a tee. At this point, the user may then
depress plunger 62 to re-initiate the process.
The tee carrier 52 is preferably bevelled as shown at 130. This facilitates
the pushing back of balls in the tube 46 as the tee carrier 52 moves back
into the tee off position.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described,
immaterial changes may be made to the embodiments described without
departing from the essence of the invention.
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